Genre: Action-Adventure | Developer: Volition | Released Date: 2011
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Published by THQ, the game was released on Linus, Microsoft Windows, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. The game follows the 3rd Street Saints who are in a turf war with three games in the city of Steelport.
Campaign
Saints Row: The Third delivers a bombastic, wild campaign that’s packed with chaos, humor, and memorable characters—but it also stumbles when it comes to storytelling substance. The game drops you into the role of the Boss once again, this time in the city of Steelport, where the Saints are no longer just a street gang—they’re celebrities. Their new fame draws the attention of the Syndicate, a criminal empire made up of three rival gangs: the Morningstar, Luchadores, and Deckers. The resulting turf war spans a variety of explosive missions, over-the-top scenarios, and larger-than-life characters.
While the concept is strong, the story itself is surprisingly forgettable. Unlike the more grounded and emotionally engaging Saints Row 2, this entry leans into absurdist comedy without giving you any real twists, turns, or high-stakes drama. There are very few standout moments in the narrative, and the villains don’t leave a lasting impression. That said, the cast of characters shines—Zimos, Kinzie, Oleg, Pierce, and others bring humor and personality to every mission. Their voice actors are excellent, and the chemistry between characters is often more entertaining than the actual plot.
Co-op mode adds a ton to the campaign’s replay value. Being able to tackle missions, free roam, or cause chaos with a friend greatly extends the game's life. On top of that, Steelport is jam-packed with side activities, collectibles, and challenges that pad out the overall playtime. Hidden sex dolls, money stashes, vehicle thefts, and stronghold missions offer reasons to return even after the story ends. You’ll also find yourself revisiting old missions just to experience them in new ways, especially with co-op.
Still, the city itself—while vast—feels oddly sterile. There's not much happening outside of gang skirmishes, and Steelport lacks the energy and variation of Stilwater. That dullness slightly drags down what could’ve been a more dynamic campaign experience.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Gameplay
Where Saints Row: The Third truly shines is in its gameplay. The core mechanics are smooth, satisfying, and just the right amount of ridiculous. It maintains the open-world structure of its predecessors, giving players the freedom to cause chaos at their own pace. Whether you’re hijacking cars, launching off ramps in a tank, or throwing people with the Apoca-Fist, every action feels punchy and fun. Combat is quick and responsive, with a good range of weapons, melee tools, and abilities to keep encounters exciting.
Players earn Respect by completing missions, challenges, and various side activities—like trailblazing, insurance fraud, or assassination gigs. This Respect functions like experience points and allows you to purchase upgrades for your weapons, vehicles, and character. You can become immune to bullets, sprint infinitely, dual-wield SMGs, and more. While these perks are fun to unlock, they do make the game far too easy once fully upgraded. By the time you’ve maxed out, the challenge essentially vanishes, which can rob the gameplay of tension or stakes.
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the game is the extensive (but slightly watered-down) customization system. From your Boss’s gender, voice, and wardrobe to your vehicles and gang appearance, you have a lot of tools to shape your Saints experience. It’s not quite as deep as Saints Row 2, but it’s still fun to spend hours tweaking designs and trying out different looks and personalities.
Replay value is deeply tied to gameplay here. There’s so much to do beyond the main missions that it’s easy to lose yourself for hours just running side quests, collecting hidden items, or trying to max out your character. The minigames are a blast, especially when they don’t take themselves seriously (like Professor Genki’s insane reality show). If you enjoy experimenting with gameplay systems, diving back in with new character builds, or just messing around with a friend in co-op, the game has near-endless entertainment.
Still, it could’ve benefited from deeper faction-based systems or choices that affect gameplay. Imagine if you could actually join one of the rival gangs and earn exclusive perks, vehicles, or missions based on that path—something that could have added another layer of depth to the experience. Even without that, though, the gameplay loop is consistently fun.
Rating: 4 out of 5
Production
Visually, Saints Row: The Third holds up well, even years after its release. The world of Steelport might not feel as alive as it should, but it looks fantastic. The city is filled with towering buildings, flashing neon, and well-crafted character models that reflect the game’s chaotic tone. Weather effects, explosions, and visual flair during action sequences make it feel like you’re constantly part of an outrageous action movie. The cinematics stand out, especially because they seamlessly incorporate your custom Boss into the scenes, allowing for some truly hilarious moments depending on how wild your character looks or sounds.
However, the city can feel flat when you stop to take it all in. There’s a surprising lack of variety in ambient life—NPCs don’t do much beyond walk or drive around, and entire areas feel lifeless unless you’re triggering a mission. There are also visual issues when flying over the city—NPCs and vehicles will often disappear at certain heights, revealing some technical shortcuts in rendering.
Sound design is phenomenal across the board. The soundtrack is a banger, whether you're flipping through radio stations or listening to background scores during missions. The voice cast knocks it out of the park, with multiple Boss voice options (including the legendary “Zombie” voice) and great performances from the entire supporting crew. Even minor characters deliver standout lines. Ambient audio—like street chatter and random NPC lines—adds to the immersion and reinforces the world’s personality.
Rating: 4 out of 5
The Verdict
In the end, Saints Row: The Third may not hit the narrative highs or customization depth of its predecessor, but it still delivers a wildly fun, endlessly entertaining open-world experience. It embraces absurdity at every turn, doubling down on over-the-top action, hilarious scenarios, and player freedom. Its weaknesses—namely the underwhelming story, occasionally lifeless world, and unbalanced difficulty—are real, but they’re easy to forgive when the core gameplay is this enjoyable.
With strong voice performances, impressive visuals, and some of the best humor in the genre, the game excels in pure entertainment. Combine that with co-op, a massive range of side content, and ridiculous player customization, and you have a title that’s as fun to return to as it is to play through the first time. Saints Row: The Third gets 4 out of 5
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